USD 383 Board of Education

Dec. 1, 2010
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer

Work session:
The work session focused on a change order needed for the construction project at Northview Elementary, which was the result of code requirements. Prior to the state Dept. of Education eliminating the state architect position, the state architect had reviewed Northview's project and required a certain number of drinking fountains and toilets based on occupancy. With the elimination of the state architect, the project now falls under the city's code department's jurisdiction, which also reviewed the project, interpreted occupancy loads differently, and is requiring additional drinking fountains and toilets. The construction team is still in the process of working with the city on the matter but was requesting additional funds as a "worst case scenario" so the project can continue to move forward.

Regular meeting:
The board was presented with a report on the district's anti-bullying programs. The funding sources for the programs have ended, and the report indicated that the district has a good foundation of materials, but sustaining the programs through professional development will be challenging without funding.

Board members approved 6-0 the change order for Northview discussed during the work session and also approved bids for new classroom furniture at Northview.

The board discussed the request for a feasibility study for the district's vacant property in Miller Ranch. The board requested the study in order to determine if the property would be an appropriate site for an elementary school. When board members had previously discussed the proposal submitted by BG Consultants to do the study, they had asked to see a fee breakdown, to make all data collected available to future architects and engineers to eliminate any advantage BG Consultants might have, and to include information about fire truck access and water main capacity for a fire sprinkler system. BG Consultants agreed to the board's additional requests, and board members approved 6-0 to accept the proposal to do the study at a cost of $14,500. Dave Colburn cautioned that the board's looking at the feasibility of the Miller Ranch property does not mean the board has made a decision to build a school on the site.

Board members were presented with information about the district's attendance boundaries. The boundary lines will need to be adjusted when the construction projects are completed. The board approved 6-0 to keep the attendance boundaries the same for the 2011-12 school year. Board members also reviewed the recommended timeline for implementing new boundaries beginning with the 2012-13 school year. A redistricting committee will be formed in the fall of 2011, which will review options for redrawing boundaries, the committee will make a recommendation to the board in early 2012, the board will approve the new boundaries in Feb. 2012, and the new boundaries will go into effect with the start of the 2012-13 school year.